DES MOINES, IA (03/24/2014)(readMedia)-- The Iowa State Fair will celebrate Iowa pride with a limited number of 3 ¼ foot tall painted Iowa-shaped statues on display throughout the grounds during the 2014 Fair, August 7-17. Individuals, clubs and companies are invited to submit their own designs for these sculptures by May 15.

To enter, submit an entry form along with a written description and detailed drawing of the proposed paint design. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Iowa State Fair website: http://www.iowastatefair.org/fair-attractions/contests/. All entries must be received or e-mailed to tcook@iowastatefair.org by May 15.

Selected applicants will be contacted by June 1. Pending selection, a $120 entry fee will be due at statue pick-up. Following the Fair, artists will get to keep their painted sculptures. A panel of judges will award prizes based on originality, creativeness and overall look in both the professional and novice divisions. Participants will be judged in the "professional" category if 25 percent or more of their income comes from graphic design or is artistry related.

Winners will receive a prize package including an Iowa State Fair plaque, Fair admission tickets, parking and more. The first, second and third place winners will also receive $150, $100 and $50 cash prizes, respectively. Artists' names will be displayed alongside their painted sculpture during the Fair.

Send entries to:

Tonya Cook, Special Events Director

Iowa State Fair

PO Box 57130

Des Moines, Iowa 50317-0003

Or e-mail all materials to tcook@iowastatefair.org

For questions about the contest, contact Tonya Cook at 515-262-3111, ext. 215 or tcook@iowastatefair.org.

"Nothing Compares" to the 2014 Iowa State Fair, August 7-17. The Fairgrounds are located at East 30th and East University Avenue, just 10 minutes east of downtown Des Moines. For more information, call 800/545-FAIR or visit www.iowastatefair.org.

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Art Legacy League Launches our Art Preservation Campaign by Bringing Steve Berry to Discuss Importance of Historic Preservation of the Arts  The Art Legacy League, (ALL) a nonprofit organization honoring the life's works of Fr. Edward M. Catich, is proud to present Steve Berry, international bestselling author to speak about historic preservation, June 1, 2014, 7pm at Jumer's Casino & Hotel. Steve Berry is the New York Times and #1 internationally recognized author of "thrill novels." His themes are meticulously researched and the fictional aspects are blended with actual historic incidents. His books have been translated into 40 languages with more than 15 million printed copies in 51 countries.

"We are so pleased that Steve accepted our invitation to share his knowledge of historical preservation. The Art Legacy League's main goal is to preserve in accordance with the standards of professional art conservators the artworks of the late Reverend Edward M. Catich, artist, author and scholar." said Paul Herrera Chairman of ALL. "We are launching the Art Preservation Campaign hoping to provide funds for continued teaching events, gallery exhibitions and lectures to share Father Catich's legacy with a national and international audience. But most importantly, the preservation of his artwork."

Steve Berry and wife Elizabeth created the HISTORY MATTERS foundation dedicated to history preservation. They travel the country lecturing and giving workshops and have helped save historic treasures raising more than $750,000. Berry has been recognized by the American Library Association, which named him the first spokesman for National Preservation Week, a role he reprised in 2013. He has also been honored for his philanthropic work with the Poets & Writers' Barnes & Noble Writers for Writers Award, the International Thriller Writers Silver Bullet Award in 2013. The Spirit of Anne Frank Human Writes Award was given to Berry for the best exemplification of the spirit of Anne Frank in their work. In addition, Steve was asked to write the forwards for the 2014-2015 re-release of the novels of James Michener, his boyhood idol and one of America's foremost storytellers.

ALL, organized in 2012 as a nonprofit organization, has adopted as its primary purpose the fostering of the Catich doctrine and making it known and accessible to all. For more information regarding this event visit the Art Legacy League at www.artlegacyleague.com For more information regarding Steve Berry, visit www.steveberry.org

Congressman announces annual competition, winner will receive two round-trip air tickets to see their artwork displayed in US Capitol

Washington, DC - Rep. Bruce Braley (IA-01) today invited high school students from across Iowa's First Congressional District to submit original artwork for the annual Congressional Art Competition, "An Artistic Discovery."

"There are many talented high school artists in eastern Iowa, and I encourage young artists across the First District to participate in this year's art competition," Braley said. "It's my great pleasure to feature young Iowa artists in the US Capitol, and it's a wonderful opportunity for their work to be on display for visitors from around the country to see."

The Congressional Art Competition, first held in 1982, is a nationwide high school arts competition sponsored by the US House of Representatives.  One winning piece of artwork from each congressional district will be selected to be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel of the US Capitol Building in Washington for one year.

Any high school student from the First Congressional District of Iowa is eligible to submit their artwork for consideration.  To enter, students must submit a digital image of their artwork via Braley's website.  The submissions will be compiled into an internet gallery for public voting.

The submission deadline is April 22^nd, 2014.  There is a limit of one submission per student.  Voting will begin on April 23, 2014 and close on May 1, 2014 when the winner will be announced.  He or she will receive two round-trip airline tickets to Washington, DC, to see their artwork displayed and attend a winners' reception.

For full details on the 2014 Art Competition, including information on how to enter, please visit Braley's website.

List of Past Iowa First District Art Competition Winners:

2008    Stephanie Tarnish, Davenport

2009    Mitch Doll, Davenport

2010    Emily Schroeder, Cedar Falls

2011    Krista Stork, Dubuque
2012    Kelsey Feldman, West Union

2013    Skylar Papakee, Meskwaki Settlement High School

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